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I have always been a huge supporter of "Listening to your Gut" on everything.  Being an artist I listen to my gut but sometimes...... 

I was in a show recently, just a local art show, and one of the comments by the judge was that my framing was much too heavy and it took away from my actual artwork.    This was a couple of pastels that I had entered and my usual framing was under glass in a very nice plain air frame.  Yes, they are dark and heavy.  Just the way I like them.   Well the judge didn't, which is to say it is totally his prerogative, but we are not suppose to be judging on frames.  Let me say this was  a very accomplished artist, and I respect his opinion, but I don't have to agree.  Let me say that to me as an artist, judging should be on the actual image itself, the composition, use of color and Value, the use of the medium itself and of course does the piece have an emotion to that judge.   I do agree that sometimes the framing isn't adequate and it just does not do the painting any justice at all, and it will always stand out if the framing is broken or crooked, or the mat is dirty.   Back to Trusting your Gut.   I just finished 4 paintings, all pastels, and took them to my framer to be framed.   I decided that they all needed mats so as to please the judge next time.  I picked up 3 of them yesterday, and the framing was done well, but I hate them.  When you look at the pieces in the frames with the matting, all you see if the mats and not the picture itself.  I am so mad at myself as I spend almost $1,000.o0 of these 4 pieces for framing, and I am not happy with them.  I should have trusted my gut and just framed my usual way.  I don't paint for anyone but myself so why in the world would I listen to something a judge would say and take it to heart.  I will do better at listening to my gut and not taking any advice from anyone else.  Every time I do it bits me in the butt.   Thanks for listening.